Visa Stamping from Canada/ Mexico

Hi All,

First, thanks to anyone who has posted their experience to help out this community. Here is the first of my contributions. Hope it helps you.

I have an Individual L1A visa, that expired last year in September (2018). I filed for renewal and I got it approved - with I797A in my hand. Now that I am planning to go to India - I wanted to get the stamping of the extension completed, so that I do not waste any time while in India (that's turning out to be debatable now :-( ). But anyways, I got Canada Visitor Visa following a very smooth process - applying online in July end and completing the full process in August.

I got help from my Company immigration team to review my DS-160 and throughout the filing process. I filled DS-160 and tried finding visa appointment. As per recommendation from my company, I took the earliest available date for February 2020 in mid-September. I was supposed to check earlier interview dates available in every 2 hours. After about 1 week - around 21st Sept - I got the date for 12.30 PM, 27th Sept. 2019 in Vancouver and I took it.

I booked urgent flight from San Francisco to Vancouver with me and my spouse on 26th evening from Air Canada. The departure flight was from United - which was from domestic terminal. Boarding an international flight from domestic terminal is a mess as you have to spend time at airline counters with the airline staff acting as immigration officers. With long baggage check-in lines for counter (even though I had no check in baggage) and confusions with the right staff - it took a long time, and I was almost going to miss my flight.

I booked a motel in north Vancouver, and reaching the consulate took a $20 cab ride. did not bring any mobile with us (me and my wife). There was a small line, went to 2nd floor for security, document check and biometric. Then to 20th floor for interview. This was easy with questions like company name, my role, then asking my wife if she works and her employer. That's it. It was maybe because I had an approved I797. They kept my passport and I797. Gave a light green sheet with instructions to check status, with a 3-5 day time for getting passport back.

Took a ferry back to North Vancouver, and had a nice lunch at a food court in the ferry terminal market - amazing place. Robust, decent priced food. Slept through till evening. Picked up a rental car in evening and extended my stay for Saturday at same place as we could not find better deals elsewhere. Was in two minds on where to stay and what to do till Tuesday (my return flight). The great motel staff suggested not to stay in Vancouver as it will definitely be costly and same. Told me to pick either Victoria or Whistler. Chose Whistler as the ferry to Victoria was over $100 per person. Found amazing deals for Whistler - $150 for two nights in a 4 start resort - as this place has less tourist from Sunday night. And its a ski place - so amazing sight seeing and cheap food / bars. (415 full breakfast for two, and a full Indian dinner for $30). I would suggest for all the folks planning to stay back to get their visa back on weekdays to get great deals for Whistler. its a full vacation.

But I have not heard back yet from the visa office or got any mail. The website (https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx - it opens fine on Internet Explorer)) still shows "Administrative Processing". Do anyone here have idea about when we can get email for passport pick up, if the interview was on Friday? Should I extend my stay and flight for Tuesday evening (today is Monday evening already). Is there something to be worried about?

Please do let me know... Not sure how much time will I have to wait...